Improvement in clasps for metallic hoops



. age. i

My clasp and mode of attachment pcssessthe UNITED STATES' PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES SPEER, OF PITTSBURG. PENNSYLVANIA.

MPROVEMENT IN CLASPS FOR METALLIC HOOPS.

'Specifica-tion formi-ng part of Letters Patent No. 18,779, dated December 1, 1857.

.To @ZZ whom, t may concern Be it known that I, JAMES'R. SPEER, of Pittsburg, in the county of `Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful improvement inclasps or fastenings for metallic bauds or hoops for packing cotton, hemp, Wool, hay, or, other articles which are packed in bales or bundles unclasp and hoop, showing the Inode of attaching the clasp. y y

My invention consists of the use of a clasp or fastening of the shape shown inthe drawings, through which the ends of the hoop are passed, and the projecting extremities bent over and inserted into an opening in the center of the clasp, as hereinafter described- I am aware that clasps or fastenings for metallic bands have been used, but differing from mine'not only in conformation, but essentially in the mode of attaching or fastening the band or hoop, the mode generally used being to link the bent ends of the hoop into each other and secure them from pulling apart bya slide passing loosely over the point of junction, while others depend for their security on the expansive force ofthe compressed bale or packadvantages of great strength, security, and ease of attachment.

sTo enable others skilled in the art to make and use my improved fastening or clasp, I will proceed to describe morev fully its construction andg operation.

In the drawings, a is thek clasp, which may be conveniently made of cast-iron. It is hollow throughout, and has a square aperture midway from either end, (markedc) which perforates both the upper and lower side pieces, d e, ci" the clasp. These side pieces, d and e, are parallel to each other, and are separated about the thickness of three folds of hoopiron, thus forming the longitudinal opening which receives the ends of the hoops.

The clasp is attached while the bale is under pressure. The hoop or band being passed around it, one end of the hoop, marked .r in

Figa-1.2, is passed through the clasp between the side' pieces, d and e, and is then bent round the edge of the-under side piece, e', and, lying in the recess formed by the projecting edges of the rims bb, the extremity is passed into the square aperture c. rIhe other end of the hoop, marked z in Fig. 2, is then pulled tight around thebale, and is passed through the longitudinal openingin the clasp, (entering, of course, at the opposite end from that at which a; was i ntroduced,) and passing entirely through' the l clasp over the end x of the hoop. The projecting extremity z being cut to the right length, is bent upward over the edge of the upper side piece, d, and, lying in `the recess formed by the rims b b, the extremity is passed into the aperture c. The attachment is thus complete, and the clasp, not being liable to slip\from its place, being held iirm by the bent hoops, is not susceptible of accidental derangeinent.

To open the bale, it is only necessary to raise the extremity z of the metallic band out of the'aperture c of the clasp, when the whole comes apart, and, the clasp and hook being uninjured, are ready for future use.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by-Letters Patent, is

The use of a hollow clasp or fastening for metallic bands, of the shape shown in the drawings, through which the ends of the hoop are passed in opposite directions, and the projecting extremities. bent over the clasp and inserted into an aperturein the middle ofthe clasp in the manner hereinbefore described. JAMES R. SPEER. Witnesses: MARTIN G. CUsHING, L. P. Sirone. 

